The Oshkosh Area School District continues to tackle busing problems

Oshkosh Area School District has good news and bad news regarding bus routes.

Kobussen Buses, Ltd., owners and representatives from the school district met Sept. 3 to discuss busing issues that arose on the first day of school.

The good news is Kobussen changed to a new software and hired a new employee, said Sue Schnorr, OASD business director, at the school board meeting Sept. 9.

Though most buses went off without a hitch, she said, a glitch between the district's Infinite Campus and Kobussen computer systems caused problems creating routes. All new information parents of 4K and summer school students had provided had to be restored, so those students were figured into routes according to the summer and early learning schedules instead of the regular year.

Service to 4K and special education students was a letdown, she said, adding the latter group of students are routed very specifically according to necessary accommodations.

School board members said those children need to communicate with drivers when issues arise, whether verbally or through identification that includes their parents' names and addresses.

Parents had difficulty contacting Kobussen staff to notify them of missed pickups or drop-offs on the first day of school. Schnorr said a shortage of bus drivers contributed to the problem.

"It was really challenging for parents to get through because everyone who had a license was out driving a bus," Schnorr said.

Two children were lost on the first day of school, but were found on other buses, she said.